My friends Jenna and Evert got married on Saturday evening in their backyard in NE Portland. The months leading up to the event were spent hectically remodeling the living room and kitchen and getting their enormous back yard ready.
They bought a super cool ranch house last Fall on a lot and a half complete with pool, water fall, and gazebo, but it was lacking that Jenna Campbell style,and she asked me to help with a redesign.
As you enter the yard from the house, there are 2 massive Douglas Fir trees framing the pool area and waterfall behind. There was just bark mulch covering the ground between the trees. Since there will be lots of bare feet running from the pool to the house, I decided to add grass from the patio to the pool, and to connect the existing lawn. We then added the 2x2' concrete pavers to create a walkway to the pool. Most of the other trees and features were there, I just cleaned up the lines, and defined the areas better.
There is a vegetable garden off to the side of the gazebo that I helped Jenna plant with seeds and starts this Spring (she was really excited as she had never planted her own garden). It is now producing enough produce for a family of four. And her husband Evert is building dirt jumps for BMX bikes in the extra lot next to the pool. I know their wedding was a success and a great party (Portland drum corps, fireworks, 2 bands, homemade German doughnuts...) and I'm glad I got to help them create a backyard that fits their style. And, I think I earned my free pass to their pool!
